Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said the Philippines has two weeks starting Feb. 21 to request the president of the Hamburg-based International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea or Itlos to form and complete the arbitration panel,continuing a multilateral initiative that has been opposed by China.

The process will continue on with or without China and we are looking at three to four years to proceed through this arbitral tribunal process, Hernandez told a press briefing.

China, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia lay claim on parts or virtually the entire contested islands, shoals and reefs in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea to Manila where undersea gas deposits have been discovered in several areas.

China prefers to negotiate one on one with other claimants which would give it advantage because of its sheer size compared to rival claimants which are smaller and have less military force, according to diplomatic observers.

Our hope is for the tribunal to declare Chinas excessive nine-dash claim which encompasses practically the entire South China Sea unlawful and direct it to respect out sovereign rights ver our maritime entitlements in the West Philippine Sea, Hernandez said.

Chinas nine-dash line is a U-shaped map that covers nearly 90 percent of the South China Sea.

Manila initiated an arbitration process under the UNCLOS on Jan 21 to try to declare as illegal Chinas nine-dash claim.

The president of ITLOS upon receipt of the Philippine request will have 30 days to form the arbitration panel, Hernandez said.

The Philippines has been engaging China in political and diplomatic dialogues for a peaceful negotiated settlement of its maritime dispute for the past 18 year, but with no success, he said.

We view the arbitration process as the most friendly, peaceful and durable option to clarify the maritime entitlements of coastal states in the South China Sea and to ensure peace and stability and freedom of navigation in the region. (PNA)